Adam ltjngen



Modem A. LNGEN.

ELECTRICAL ANNUNCIATOR.

Patented May 23, 1882.

Ill

Uivirao v STATES 'PATENT @Erica ADAM LNGEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters YPatent No. 258,537, dated May 23, 1882.

Application filed September 7, 1881.

. each by a corresponding magnet in the annunciator, which magnet acts, when circuited, to attract an armature-pawl, and thereby release an upheld tag or indicating-plate, and allows it to fall before the reading-window of the aununciat'or, whereby the source of the call or the i location at which the circuit has been closed is announced by the inscription on the fallen tag.

My invention consists in several details of construction relating to the form and arrangementof the tag-plate and of the magnet-holder, as well as the armaturc-pawl, and also in the device for raising the fallen tags, whereby general simplicity and efficiency are attained, but more especially whereby the use ol' retracting-springs on the armature is obviated and the sticking ofthe armature by residual magnetism is prevented, also, whereby a veryeasy and certain pivotal motion of the tag is obtained, yet the tag is not'liable to be accidentallydropped by vibrations, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 of the drawings annexed gives a vertical section of my improved annunciator with two rows of magnets and tags. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the magnets and tags removed, showing more particularly the raising device to raise or set the fallen tags; and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the annunciator. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of one section of the annunciatorhthat is, magnet, tag, and holder removed from the case, with the tag raised. Fig. 5 is afront elevation thereof with the tag dropped, and Fig. 6 a rear elevation of the same.

' In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a a indicate the case of the annunciator, which may be of any suitable size, according to the number of sections which it incloses. The circuit-wires from the several localities represented by the annunciator run (Model.)

to the back board, b, of the case in the usual manner, and thence connect to each of the separate magnets c c, representing theselocalities; but these connections are nothere shown, as they form no part of my invention and are well understood. The front of the case consists of a glass pane, d, set in a suitable sash or frame, c, secured to the case, as shown, and this glass is painted with an opaque paint, ex-

cept in strips ff, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) which arev left clear and transparent, forming windows through which the indications of thc annunciator are read. The ends ot' the case, as seen best in Fig. 3, are so formed as to present an offset or ledge, g, and to those offsets are screwed small metallic brackets h h, which pro ject forward toward the glass front' of the case. These brackets, as seen best in Fig. 2, have each a horizontal overhanging arm, h', which ends in an upwardlydirected arm, h", On the horizontal arms h are supported metal plates or shelves it', which extend lengthwise within the case in line v ith the windowsff, and are screwed at opposite ends to the end brackets, as shown best in Fig. 2, and 011 these plates or shelves are supported the several magnets of each row, with their pivoted tag-levers 7s and armature-pawl l, as seen best in Figs. 1 and 3.

Each magnet c, with its tag-plate and armature-pawl, is sustained by a magnet-holder, in., (seen best inFig.4,) which isa simple L-shaped casting, to the back and upright end of which is riveted or screwed the core c of the magnet,

which is formed, as usual, of soft iron, on which is slipped the spool or bobbin forming the coil of the magnet. The magnet-holder is also formed with smallears m in its back end, below the magnet-core, in which slots are sa`wed or milled to receive the forked pivotal ends 7c 7c of the tag-plate,which is formed preferably of tin-plate, and p'ivoted in the slotted ears on slender wire pins driven through the same, as shown best in Fig. 6, and also in Figs. 5, 4, and 1. Thetag-le'ver is preferably made by stamp ingin one piece oftin-platein the form shownthat is, having a long, wide, central stem or body, k--from the front end of which projects IOO oted in the cars m m', before described, and

between these legs atail-piece, c'", extends upwardly from the back end ot' the body, as fully shown in the several gures. The head-plate k' forms the tablet to receive the card or tag indicating the locality' represented by the magnet, as shown best in Figs. 1, 3, a-nd 4, and this plate is formed with overturned claws h4 on its top and bottom edges, which admit and retain the cards, as shown. The front end of the magnet-holder m is slotted or forked, and in this forked end is pivoted the armature-pawl l, which has an L-shaped form in the-edgel view, its upperand longer arm being iliade in a broad plate form to overlie the pole of the magnet, as seen in Fig. 5, terminating iu an outwardlydirected pawl-nose, l'. The lower and shorter arm ofthe pawl terminates in a heavy forwardly-directed foot or platform, l, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The magnet, its armature, and the tag-plate are thus all sustained by the magnet-holder m,which parts collectively form one section,7 as it is termed,of the annunciator, which section is shown removed in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. These sections,when placed in the annunciator, are mounted side by side in rows on the shelves i li, as seen best in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The bases ofthe magnet-holders m rest on the shelves i' t', to which they are secured by screws p p, (see Figs. l and 4,) the heads of which bear upon the under side ofthe shelves, while the threaded part. extends through holes in the shelves and screws into the base ot' the magnet-l1older,which holes are elongated transversely tothe shelf, so that the magnet-holder may be adjusted back or forth thereon to obtain its correctposition, and there held bytightening the clamp-screw. Now, when the magnet-holders are thus fastened in place upon the shelves it, it will be observed that the armature-pawls llhangjust before thefrontedge ofthe shelves, and as the lower arms of thesepawls, as before described, are heavier than the upper arms, hence this end tends constantly to gravitate against the edge ofthe plate, so as to retract the upper arms from the magnet-poles, and throw the noses of the pawls out into their engaging positions, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4. Therefore the front edges of the shelves i form the stop to limit the retracting motion of the armature-pawls, and which motion is adjustable, as before described. Now, when the tag-plate is raised a projecting tongue, L5, cut from and bent backward out of the plate k', passes the tip of the armature-pawl l, which thence projects out beneath the same, and thus upholds the tag, as seen in Fig. 4 and in the upper part of Fig. 1. When t-he tags are thus upheld, as seen in Fig. 1, they are entirely removed from before the transparent strip f or reading-window of the glass front, and are thus out of sight from the exterior of the case. Now, a thin screen-plate, r, extends along in front of the pawls and their magnets andjust behind the windows j', being fastened at each end to the upright arms on the brackets h h,

and it thus conceals all parts of the instrument which would be otherwise seen through these windows, and it will be observed that the tag, when dropped, falls between said plate and the window. The surface of the screenplate is hence preferably painted in a dark or black color, so that when the tags are raised the transparent windows present the appearalice of a dark space or band, no parts of the devices within being visible to distract the sight; but as soon as a tag is dropped its white indicating-surface with black letters, as seen in Fig. 1, becomes at once conspicuous against the black or dark background of the screen r, and thus instantly attracts the eye, it being thesole object alonga dark space. The screenplate r thus forms au advantageous feature of my invention, and it might of course be painted white if the ground of the tag-cards were black but the reverse is preferable, as

just described.

It may now be noted, on reference to Fig. l, that when the armature pawl is attracted by its corresponding magnet its tip will be withdrawn from the tongue ki' of the tag-plate, thus allowing the tag to fall, as before described, and shown in the lower part of Fig. 1, and when thus fallen its lower edge will strike upon the outwardly-projecting foot l of the pawl and rest thereon, as seen in Fig. 1. This construction thus not only forms a simple stop to limit the drop ofthe tags, but it will be observed that the full momentum and shock of the falling tag is applied suddenly upon the attracted pawl,whieh will at once pull it forcibly away from the magnet into its retracted position, where its own gravity always tends to bring it, so as to et'fectually prevent its permanently sticking to the magnet, either by residual or permanent magnetism, which is a frequent ditiiculty in devices of this class. This constitutes one of the leading advantages of my invention, and is accomplished, as may be observed, by a very simple and neat construction.

Another important advantage ot' my improvement, as will be noted, lies in the fact that retracting-springs, in connection with the pawl, are dispensed with and its own gravity substituted, and that the pawl tends to gravitate against the front edge of the shelft', which forms the stop to limit its retraction, as before described, and by simply adjusting the magnet-holder m slightly in or out upon thc shelf, as before mentioned, the point of the pawl may be adjusted with relation to the engaging tongue of the tag-plate, so that the parts will act with more or less sensitivencss, as may bc desired, thus rendering the construction very eticient and simple. It will be further observed that in my instrument the tag-plate is pivoted at a point entirely behind the magnet, and hence at a very long leverage, so that its pivotal movementis very easy and its fall more certain and positive.

Another improved feature of the tag-plate IIS consists in eounterbalancing-weights w, which are afxed to the tail-pieces k lt back ofthe pivotal lines, as shown. These weights are not, of course, sufficient to overbalance the front or indicating end of the tag, which, of course, preponderates, but are so proportioned as to remove a great deal of the weight which would otherwise rest on the tip of the pawl, and therefore render the lnovement of the parts more easy and sensitive. Furthermore, the weights w w are such as to bring the center of gravity not far from the pivot-line on the front arm of the tag-lever, so that while the front arm necessarily preponderates, yet the greatest concentration of weight is on the back arm. The result of this is that any jar or vibration of the aununciator tends to make the weighted end descend and momentarily lift the front end and raise the tongue slightly from the pawl, so that this jar hence acts in the most favorable way to prevent the accidental disengagement of the pawl and the unintentional drop of the tag, which is a serions defect in some annunciators.

It will be observed that the body k of the tag-lever is curved in cross-section, as seen in Fig. 3, similar to the curve of the magnet, which is for the twofold purpose of stiffening the same and to enable it to closely overlie the magnet when dropped, as will be appreciated on reference to Figs. 1 and 5.

It may be also noted that the claws l# k, to hold the tag-card, are formed on the top and bottom edges only of the tag-plate, and not on the vertical edges, as heretofore. Hence the card is slipped into place horizontally in the direction in which it reads, and therefore a longer or shorter card, according to the necessary length ot' its inscription, may be admitted withoutobjection, which is in many cases quite desirable.

The raising device employed to raise and reset the tags after they have been dropped is shown best in Figs. 2 and 3. rIhis consists of elbow-levers s s, pivoted 011 the brackets h h,

at opposite ends of the case,in coincident position, with one arm incliningforward and resting on the shelves t', while the other arm projects diagonally upward and backward. A stiff rod or bar, is connected firmly at its opposite ends with the latter arms of the said elbowlevers, and extends longitudinally through the case from end to end thereof and over the row ot' tag-levers, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. When the' tags fall their tails 76 c" approach the bar x, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 1, and hence if this bar be depressed by swaying one of the elbow-levers s s any tag or number ot' tags which are down will be raised and caught by the pawls, and be thus reset. One of the elbow-levers is thus moved by a crankknob, t, on one end of the case, as seen best in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2, which crank-knob connects to a rock-shaft turning in the end ofthe case and fixed to a second crank, u, within the case, whose crank-'pin bears against the adjacent elbow-lever s, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Where two or moreY rows of tags, &c., are used the elbow-levers and bars s w are simply duplicated in each row, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the succeeding series are connected with the preceding bythe linkse v, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so that the whole series of raiser-bars are operated simultaneously by one action ofthe crank-knob t. A-spring,.y,tends to constantly keep the raising device inlitsinactive position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. This raising device isthus not only very simple and certain, but is readily extended to any number of rows of sections by simple duplication and the coupling ot' one series wit-h1thc other, as will be appreciated.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with an annunciatormagnet and its drop or tag, of an armature or armature-pawl having a part projecting into the path of motion of the tag or drop, with the tag or drop arranged to strike the said armature in its fall, and thereby retract it from the magnet, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, with an annuncia-tormagnet audits tag, ofan armature-pawl having one arm arranged to be attracted by the magnet and to engage the tag, and the opposite arm or foot of the pawl bent or directed across the path ot' the tag in its direction of drop, whereby the tag, when released,falls upon the foot ot' the pawl, and is thereby stopped in its motion, and at the same time retracts the pawl from the magnet, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. An annuneiator constructed with a magnet-supportin g shelf, in combination with magnets supported in holders aftixed to said shelves, and armatures or armature-pawls pivoted on the said holders and depending before the edge of the shelf, whereby the said edge forms the stop to limit the retraction ot' the pawl, substantially as herein set forth.

4. In an annunciator, the screen-plate r, arranged before the magnets and armatures and behind the reading opening or window ot' the case, with tags arranged to project over in front of said screen when released, whereby the screen serves to conceal the general meehanism of the instrument, and aords a contrasting background, against which a fallen tag will conspicuously show, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. A pivoted annuneiator-tag having along arm formed With a tag-plate at one side ofthe pivoted axis, and a short arm at the opposite side of the axis, provided with counter-weights w, so proportioned as t-o dispose the center of gravity in the long arm near the axis, sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. An annunciator constructed with a longitudinal shelf or bar and with magnet-holda ers, each carrying a magnet and its pawlarmature mounted in transverse relation with said bar, with the pawls depending against ICO IOS

IlO

the edge thereof, and with a means of fastening said holders in fixed position with an adjustment back and forth transverse to said bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A tag raising and setting device for annunciators, consisting of levers s s, pivoted at opposite ends of a series or row of tags, and a longitudinal bar, @overlying or commanding said row, and fixed at each end to said levers, with projections on the pivotal arms ot said tags disposed in the are of motion of said bar, and with a manipulating device to sway one of the levers s, and thereby sweep said bar toward the tags, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination, with two or more rows of annuneiator magnets and tags, of a multiple raising and setting device consisting of levers s, and bars w arranged substantially as set forth, and duplicated in each row with the coupling-links v yv, connecting the succeeding series of bars and levers with the preceding, and with a common mauil'iulatingdevice to sway the first series, and thereby operate the whole, substantially as herein shown and described.

ADAM LNGEN.

WVitnesses JN0. E. GAVIN, CI-ms. M. HIGGINS. 

